About Us
Get to know who we are and why LBL Science, Technology, and Engineering Professionals (STEPs) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory came together to form a union below.
Abby Hodson
Scientific Engineering Associate, Energy Analysis and Environmental Impact
Forming a union at LBNL is about ensuring Support Engineers have a meaningful voice in shaping our working conditions. While some of us may currently enjoy positive work environments, that experience isn’t universal across the lab. A union provides a fair and democratic way to establish consistent, transparent standards—ones that reflect what we collectively need to do our best work. There’s a lot of fear-based messaging around unionization, but at its core, this is about collaboration—not conflict. It’s about engineers coming together to define our priorities, protect what’s working, and improve what’s not.
Paul Centeno
Electronics Engineer Associate, Engineering
I want a union so that the voices of engineers that actually perform the work are truly heard when it comes to the work environment, benefits that are actually useful, of transparency of future work, and career advancement.
Sumaira Zaman
Data Scientist, Joint Genome Institute
I strongly believe that workers should be able to voice their concerns regarding workplace conditions and their employers should not only genuinely listen but also actively attempt to improve these working conditions. Currently, the UC system has absolutely no incentive to do so for support engineers at LBNL. Through unionization, we can build a system that amplifies our concerns securely and provides a framework to bring about real change which impacts all of our livelihoods.
Andrew Graus
Associate Software Developer, Climate and Ecosystem Sciences
I was formerly a UAW member as a Ph.D student within the UC system and saw the impact that collective bargaining can have directly. From wage increases to improvements in childcare and healthcare, unionization is one of the few things I’ve seen drastically improve the livelihoods of workers.
Anjana Saravanan
Mechanical Engineering Associate, Engineering
I want a union so that engineers at the Lab can stand together in our efforts towards our workplace goals, whether it’s more vacation days, transparency and foresight regarding layoffs, clearer career advancement opportunities, or other objectives.
Remy Doucet
Computer Systems Engineer 2, Scientific Networking
At the Lab, we often find ourselves working in silos. Being in a union allows us more connection to each other and strength for shared fights. I hope to work together to achieve things like better dependent benefits, protection against discrimination, and keeping research we care about funded.
Daniel Schow
Mechanical Engineer 3, Engineering
Fair treatment for all!!!
Panagiotis Zarkos
IC Design Engineer 3, Engineering
Even though my personal experience at the UC and LBNL has been a great one, I could not help but notice how dependent on luck that was. I strongly believe that democratically coming together as a group of workers will allow us to not only negotiate for improved working conditions for all, but also advocate for more resources directed towards fundamental science and research.
Fern Seidel
Computer Systems Engineer 3, NERSC
I joined STEP-UAW because LBL is the best place I have ever worked, and I want to keep it that way. I am a firm believer that joining together to form a union is our best way of fighting for a better work-life balance and having a democratic say in how policy is shaped at LBL, making LBL a better place for everyone!
Hannah Parrilla
Senior Scientific Engineering Associate, Nuclear Sciences
I believe everyone deserves both respect and protection in their work environment. Seeing what unions have done to stand up for their members inspires me, and I want those same opportunities for all of us.
Johannes Blaschke
Computer Systems Engineer 4, NERSC
When I came to Berkeley Lab, I saw first hand how the Postdoc Union (UAW 5810) empowered early-career researchers to take control over their working conditions, and win many of the working conditions we take for granted today: improved salaries and job security, parental leave, and more favorable visas for foreign nationals. Doing world-class research is far easier when you don’t have to worry about paying rent, or when you’re navigating the US immigration system on your own. I therefore support forming the STEP union because I think that worker’s rights are foundational to Berkeley Lab’s Stewardship values.
Gregory Lemieux
Staff Software Developer, Climate and Ecosystem Sciences
As a software developer working at the lab for over 6 years, I’ve come to find that establishing a career at the lab can be very challenging due to the lack of a clearly supported path towards roles with responsibility and leadership. Talking with colleagues, it’s apparent that there is very little consistency in how our achievements and contributions are recognized. I want a union so that we can make sure that the lab provides concrete steps and opportunities for all of us engaged in enabling research to attain our career goals.
Jessen Bredeson
Data Scientist, Joint Genome Institute
Unionization is important for ensuring that workers’ voices are heard and taken seriously by the large, powerful organizations that employ them.
John Lindsay
Senior Plant/Facilities Engineering Associate, Engineering Division
Here’s what awaits you if you file a grievance against your supervisor… your “HR Rep” will say she’s an “impartial mediator” & hear the dispute. Then she will sweep the whole thing under the rug & exonerate fully your supervisor. Your HR Rep is paid by the Lab to protect the Lab, and by extension protect the supervisor empowered by the Lab. The ONLY one advocating for you in that meeting IS YOU. You NEED someone else at the table protecting YOUR interests.